Op-Ed: In 2007 Herve Falciani, an IT worker turned whistle-blower, stole files from HSBC's Swiss division and passed them on to French authorities; the files showed that wealth was safely stashed away from the taxman in Swiss bank accounts. While having an off shore bank account is not illegal there is a fine line between using it for tax evasion and tax avoidance; some would say those two are one and the same; documents relating to these bank accounts has now been shared across many countries but Falciani says these are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many others. Wednesday PMQT in the House of Commons London the fur flew as Labour leader Ed Miliband rose to the challenge of this scandal. All Tory leader and PM David Cameron could do was retaliate with the name of one Labour donor, from Gordon Brown's time in office, who appeared on the list; but as Mr Miliband pointed out nine grandiose Tory donors featured. This means that if these Tory donors have been avoiding paying tax they may have used any illicit monetary gains to prop up the Tory party of the UK; a political party currently in government. That would smack of buying policies and politics either indirectly or not. Wednesday Miliband said "The prime minister cannot get away from it: he is a dodgy prime minister surrounded by dodgy donors." He did not name names but it seems some knew they were the target. Later Wednesday Lord Fink made a statement to the press. He accused Mr Miliband of using his parliamentary privilege to make scurrilous accusations against him. He defied Miliband to say the same away from the Commons privilege and threatened legal action if he did. Thursday the Telegraph reports Miliband has refused to accuse Fink of being 'dodgy' outside of Parliamentary protection but has repeated his accusation that Lord Fink had engaged in 'tax avoidance'. PMQT Wednesday was more childish, aggressive and accusing than ever. Political pundits say that will turn voters off both parties involved. However some of the electorate will be happy to see Mr Miliband baring his teeth to smug-faced Cameron who always responds to attacks with similar retaliatory attacks thrown back childishly; never actually answering questions. In March 2012 we reported UK Tory Party corruption as Peter Cruddas resigned. Millionaire Conservative Party co-treasurer Peter Cruddas was caught on video bragging that he could get people access to Number 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister and policy makers for a price. He was quickly toast but Fink works on. This is not the first time Fink has made headlines for the wrong reasons. In June 2012 the Bureau for investigative Journalism reported "Conservative Treasurer accused of breaking House of Lords rules." Fink was described as Cameron's main fund raiser. The [now former] Treasurer of the Conservative Party was accused last night of breaking parliamentary anti-sleaze rules after arranging to host a private dinner in the House of Lords for paying American Express card-holders. And this week the Guardian reported a Black and White event taking place at a five-star Mayfair hotel with most of the Tory cabinet including Theresa May in attendance, with Conservative donors paying up to £15,000 for table at this election fundraiser.
"The ball has been organised by a 63-strong committee, including City donors, oil tycoons and recent converts to the Conservative cause. It includes Karren Brady, the recently ennobled Tory peer from BBC1’s The Apprentice, Philip Mould, an expert from Antiques Roadshow, the owners of several hedge funds and three makeup artists." Now if that does not breach any election, parliamentary or funding rules there is something very rotten in British politics. Having the biggest election treasure chest may not guarantee victory, look at Mitt Romney who lost out to President Obama, but it goes a long way to spinning news and messing with the electorate's minds. If you are an ordinary working or middle class voter in the UK why would you vote for these Conservatives? Lord Fink joined the House of Lords January 2011 as an early appointment by the then new Tory led government. Related at TEK Tory secret summer party fundraiser leaks
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